Category: Google+

The social web is evolving with each passing day. Right from the day Google Plus (a social network introduced by Google) was announced, people have been flocking to join in. Google Plus social network offers some really cool features, apart from bolstering user security. Not only businesses, even jobseekers can use this social network for job search.If you are ready to use Google Plus for job searching, given below are some of the most real tips you can use.

#1. If you don’t have a profile on Google Plus, go create one.

If you are there already, you need to optimize your profile. Optimizing your profile means filling out the details in a way that increases your visibility to employers. Include industry related keyword so you appear in relevant searches.

#2. Use the Circles feature to connect with influential people.

More importantly, add those people who are already employed in your target companies. Participate in their conversations to attract attention.

#3. Use the Hangouts feature to take your efforts to the next level.

You can use this feature to create job search clubs. Learn the basic rules and regulations of participating in hangouts.

#4. Find opportunities to highlight your talents and skills.

If you are really smart, you can easily grab the attention of companies or employers. It is also a good idea to ask questions related to the kind of job you are looking for.See tips 5-10 and the complete article

Perhaps you are skeptical about how social media use can improve your chances to land a new job. After all, the traditional media never hesitate to showcase people who make mistakes using Facebook and Twitter, causing them to lose their employment. It’s likely you’ve barely even heard of Google+; what can this network possibly offer job seekers?

In a nutshell: a lot. The caveat? You need to know a thing or two about Google+ to make the most it. To get started on the right foot and break out of your job search rut, keep in mind these four things all social media tools offer job seekers and the ways Google+ helps accomplish them:

1. The opportunity to demonstrate expertise.If you and the people you work with are the only ones who know how great you are at your job, it will be difficult to land a new opportunity down the road. Luckily, Google+, offers a platform to demonstrate what you know for people who do not already know you.

Make the most of Google+ by posting updates that highlight your expertise. Are you a health insurance expert? Post links with news about how new regulations affect your industry and include your comments. Does your expertise include fashion or interior design? Create a stream of information and photos in your Google+ profile showing that you are up-to-date about what’s fashionable and what is passe. Include pictures and commentary to illustrate what you know.

When you use Google+ to post public updates, Google indexes your expertise, and you have a chance for your posts to appear as search results for other people’s queries about the topics you include in your updates.

2. The chance to expand your network. Have you ever wanted to connect with someone, but you couldn’t access an introduction? Perhaps you considered cold calling the contact, but didn’t feel confident you could actually connect? Using Google+, you can contact people you don’t already know on line and communicate directly with them with no barriers to entry.

It’s as easy as finding the target person on Google+ (use the search bar at the top to discover if he or she is using the social network) and using his or her name in an update. To make sure you have the best chance to win someone’s attention, either use a + or an @ symbol before his or her name.

For example, if you want John Smith to notice you, you can add him to your Google+ circles (the equivalent of your friends on Facebook) and follow what he posts. When you want to get his attention, comment on his posts or repost something he shared and use his name, “+JohnSmith” in your post. Doing so will trigger a notification for John that you mentioned him.

Depending on the nature of your online conversations, you can easily impress John or other contacts and grow your network of people who know, like and trust you – and who may be willing to refer you for a job opportunity or for an informational meeting.Ways 3,4 and the complete AOL Jobs article

Perhaps you are skeptical about how social media use can improve your chances to land a new job. After all, the traditional media never hesitate to showcase people who make mistakes using Facebook and Twitter, causing them to lose their employment. It’s likely you’ve barely even heard of Google+; what can this network possibly offer job seekers?

In a nutshell: a lot. The caveat? You need to know a thing or two about Google+ to make the most it. To get started on the right foot and break out of your job search rut, keep in mind these four things all social media tools offer job seekers and the ways Google+ helps accomplish them:

1. The opportunity to demonstrate expertise.If you and the people you work with are the only ones who know how great you are at your job, it will be difficult to land a new opportunity down the road. Luckily, Google+, offers a platform to demonstrate what you know for people who do not already know you.

Make the most of Google+ by posting updates that highlight your expertise. Are you a health insurance expert? Post links with news about how new regulations affect your industry and include your comments. Does your expertise include fashion or interior design? Create a stream of information and photos in your Google+ profile showing that you are up-to-date about what’s fashionable and what is passe. Include pictures and commentary to illustrate what you know.

When you use Google+ to post public updates, Google indexes your expertise, and you have a chance for your posts to appear as search results for other people’s queries about the topics you include in your updates.

2. The chance to expand your network. Have you ever wanted to connect with someone, but you couldn’t access an introduction? Perhaps you considered cold calling the contact, but didn’t feel confident you could actually connect? Using Google+, you can contact people you don’t already know on line and communicate directly with them with no barriers to entry.

It’s as easy as finding the target person on Google+ (use the search bar at the top to discover if he or she is using the social network) and using his or her name in an update. To make sure you have the best chance to win someone’s attention, either use a + or an @ symbol before his or her name.

For example, if you want John Smith to notice you, you can add him to your Google+ circles (the equivalent of your friends on Facebook) and follow what he posts. When you want to get his attention, comment on his posts or repost something he shared and use his name, “+JohnSmith” in your post. Doing so will trigger a notification for John that you mentioned him.

Depending on the nature of your online conversations, you can easily impress John or other contacts and grow your network of people who know, like and trust you – and who may be willing to refer you for a job opportunity or for an informational meeting.Ways 3,4 and the complete AOL Jobs article

Social media is becoming an essential tool for those interested in finding a new job or extending their professional network. There are endless opportunities to connect with individuals and organizations from all over the world that share your interests.

When you think social media and careers, LinkedIn may be the first place that comes to mind. I, as well as our recent Inside Online Learning chat participants, continue to recommend LinkedIn as a primary account, but it may be time to expand your online reach with Google+ as your next step.

Why Google+?

Donna Svei of AvidCareerist.com answers that, “if you have a profile on Google Plus, and it contains the key words a recruiter is looking for, your profile will pop for them from their Google Search. IT’S THAT EASY. No building a network. No levels of connection. No spendy premium plans. Just simplicity.”

Chances are you are already using Google, whether it’s the popular search engine, Gmail, or one of many Google Apps. If you already have a Google account, log in to check your options for completing a profile and the adjusting the settings for search visibility and privacy. A new post from Mashable proclaims “you will be Googled,” so why not take action to fine tune the part of your digital footprint that is already associated with Google?

Profile Basics

With career development and the job search process in mind, here is a short list of the Google+ profile sections you should consider completing as a form of social resume:

Story: This is the primary information that will appear under the “About” tab of your profile (see the screenshot below). It includes Tagline, Introduction, and Bragging Rights (i.e., achievements). What is your story? Use key words relevant to your industry and interests to help your profile appear in recruiters’ searches. Note that while the brief Tagline is public, you can modify the settings for the Introduction and Bragging Rights.

Work: In this section of your profile you can add your Occupation, a list of Skills, and details about your Employment history (i.e., company name, job title, start and end dates, job description.) As in the Story section, you can decide which items will be public or private.

Education: Create a list of your education and training achievements. The entries are similar in format to what you might include in a traditional resume or job application, such as institution name, field of study, and year of graduation

Though Facebook still dominates the social-media landscape, Google Plus is quickly gaining a following among savvy job seekers who view the service a useful tool for job search. In fact, with some 343 million members, Google Plus has surpassed micro-blogging site Twitter and is second only to Facebook in its number of “active” users, according to a report by Global Web Index.

As with any social-media network, mastering Google Plus takes a bit of time and experimentation to yield the results you’re looking for. The Undercover Recruiter website recently offered these tips (along with several others) to give job hunters a jump start on how to use Google Plus when looking for employment.

Create a profile on Google Plus: And if you already have one, be sure to optimize it by adding a photo and filling out your profile to give recruiters a better idea of who you are and what you’ve accomplished.

Use the ‘Circles’ feature to connect with influential people: When you connect with someone on Google Plus, you add them to “circles,” which include categories such as “friends” and “acquaintances” — or you can create your own. The feature can be helpful should you wish to, say, share some posts with friends and other items with only professional contacts. (And be sure to add AOL Jobs to your circle.)

Engage: Google Plus can be a great way to ask questions of recruiters and HR professionals about the hiring process at specific employers. You might also land an online interview, which can better prepare you for an in-person interview. (You also can join AOL Jobs experts for our weekly Lunchtime Live hangouts on Google Plus. Each Friday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, we discuss career issues with experts, and readers are welcome to join in.)

Many have labeled Google+ a ghost town – late to the party and incomparable to the likes of Facebook and Twitter.

But Google+ actually has a lot of potential, especially for job seekers like you because more and more companies are using it to showcase their brands and engage with the public. They’ve hit a total of 100 million active users in April — not too shabby!

Before you walk right by a wide open door of opportunity, at least give Google+ a chance. Take a look-see at what Google+ has to offer by considering these four awesome ways others have used Google+ as part of the job search:

1. Take Advantage of Google+ ‘Hang Outs’

Hang Outs are a video chatting session with up to 10 people total. Don’t let the name fool you! Hang Outs aren’t just to catch up with old friends and discuss the latest Mad Men episode. The utility of this feature is limitless!

ChefHangOuts.com, for instance, is a culinary class hosted entirely on Google+ Hangouts video. And here’s the kicker: they’ve hired all of their chefs through Google+! You can check out their Google+ recruitment process here.

Hang Outs are also a great team-oriented platform for you as a self-starter. Be bold and creative. Reach out to folks who are interested in talking about your area of expertise and initiate a Hang Out yourself! So while your competition is busy sending out generic LinkedIn messages, your efforts initiating face-time will be way more personable, engaging and memorable. To start exploring what’s out there, click the “Hang Outs” icon on the left module and then “view more” next to “Hangouts to join.”

2. Tune Into ‘Hang Outs on Air’ (HOA) to Stay Up-to-date

The difference between Hang Outs and HOAs is that an HOA is broadcasted to more than 10 people. It’s usually an informative video or live conversation that you can watch rather than participate in.As a job seeker, these are important for you because experts often host informative HOA that will help you stay in the loop. Also, Google has hosted HOAs about their recruiting process—and, though this concept is new, some companies are likely to follow suit.

Another example of an informative HOA is Founder of Talk Marketing Now Network George Sepich’s “Super Success Tuesday Live Hangout,” in which professionals talk about gaining inspiration and various paths to success. He also hosts industry-specific HOAs like “Talk Marketing Now Network.” To start browsing HOAs, type the term “#hangoutsonair” in your Google+ search engine.

3. Get Interactive Insight from Career Experts

Google+ is a super interactive way to absorb expert career advice, so look out for workshops hosted by career experts and job sites.

InternMatch hosted a 24-hour marathon internship development workshop on HOA. In their workshop, they invited various company recruiters who shared tips on how to create a resume, what to avoid during the interview process, and more. You can check out the videos here.